Knowledge regarding risk factors and preventive measures of varicose vein among staff nurses at Dhiraj General Hospital, Waghodia, Vadodara

BACKGROUND: As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels called the circulatory system. The vessels are the elastic tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins return it. Vascular disease includes any condition that affects the circulatory system. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, and sometimes painful veins that have filled with an abnormal collection of blood. Normally veins have leaflet valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards (retrograde flow or reflux). Leg muscles pump the veins to return blood to the heart (the calf muscle pump mechanism), against the effects of gravity. When veins become varicose, the leaflets of the valves no longer meet properly, and the valves do not work (valvular incompetence). This allows blood to flow backwards and they enlarge even more. When a person stand up we can see varicose veins as large, bluish vessels that may feel like a rope.Varicose veins are very common condition. Women tends to be more affected than men, with approximately 30% of women developing varicose veins in their life time, campared to 15% of men. The major problem is that many people are not aware that they suffer from varicose veins. Awareness is lacking not only in patients but also in the medical fraternity. It is an under treated disease; more than 40% of theIndian population suffers from it.MATERIAL AND METHODS: An evaluative research approach with non-experimental descriptive design was used. The sampling technique used was non- probability convenience sampling. Data was collected from staff nurses who are working in Dhiraj General Hospital, Pipariya, Waghodia, Gujarat. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics used were frequency, mean and standard deviation.RESULTS: The majority of the respondents (70%) had moderate knowledge. There was no significant association between age and knowledge regarding risk factor and preventive measures of varicose vein (?2=0.23 at 0.05 level of significance). There was no significant association between experience and knowledge regarding risk factor and preventive measures of varicose vein (?2=2.06 at 0.05 level of significance). There was no significant association between residency and knowledge regarding risk factor and preventive measures of varicose vein (?2=0.09 at 0.05 level of significance). There was no significant association between gender and knowledge regarding risk factor and preventive measures of varicose vein (?2=0.015 at 0.05 level of significance). There was significant association between education and knowledge regarding risk factor and preventive measures of varicose vein (?2=7.03 at 0.05 level of significance)